My school decommissioned a bunch of old C.O.C microscopes a year or so ago. They dumped them all in the auditorium. Luckily I was in theatre class then and I had access to the auditorium. I asked the housekeeper what they're going to do with those and he told me they'll probably throw them away and that I could take one. Most of the microscopes were missing parts, only 2 out of the 10 had eyepieces. Every lunch break I had worked combining the best of the microscope parts to make a fully functional one, and then took it home! I already took some photos of my own blood cells haha
Aw dude good job with your C.O.C.! I’m so proud of you for taking care of your C.O.C. right! Good job, dude, keep it up and your C.O.C. will serve you well for years. I wish I had a C.O.C.
Me and a friend did roughly this with some old Dell desktops that we ended up using as a server. Those things had 2 identical capacitors in the power supply and the motherboard. 1 of 2 would fail and 2 computers yielded one functioning one every time.
When I worked in a factory we would have to take parts from units that failed and put them together with fresh parts, or other failed parts, and keep testing in an effort keep scrap and rework to a minimum. This worked most of the time and we got passing test results. These microscopes remind me of a nightmare job I had where we were forced to exhaust every possible combination of parts before we were allowed to scrap anything. But this looks very likely that someone went dumpster diving and assembled those microscopes from parts that should have been recycled.
Good grief! Who did you work for that was that crazy about the bottom line?! I mean, I get that tossing parts loses money, but so does NEEDLESS work and using parts that were sub par. If the thing is broken, then send it back to the manufacturer because they didn't do a good job on it, and should know about it.
$127 Canadian dollars got me no name stereo scope from Amazon ... Surprisingly it works pretty well! Biggest complaint was there was no eye correction adjustment for the binocular correction. However, a very light movement of the left piece in and out has worked and the correction can me made stable with a bit of "tape". Optics reasonable and viewing video channels like this one has helped me make the best use of the equipment I have now.
A second hand Zeiss or Leica microscope, you get between a 600 and a 1000 $ It will still last a lifetime. Much better than the new junk, they sell for 600$. Buying cheap is buying expensive in the long run.
It is not a microscope, it is an MSO (Microscope Shaped Object). I've seen anvils made in China that were unusable, I can;t imagine what they would do to a microscope.
I really feel offended that someone would sell such a "buzzkill" microscope for a child/student to use, who is trying to become a scientist or similar. Unreal. It reminds me of crappy microscopes in my childhood (crappy mirrors and generally rusty). Must have left emotional scars.
If I had to guess I'd say they put diopter adjustments on both eyepieces to save cost. That way they can use the same parts for both eyepeces. Where if one didn't have the adjustment, it would need different parts and hence cost more to machine the parts.
i bought a microscope like this, the light broke within a week, i sent it back to the manufacturer and they fixed it, got it back and it worked but another week before breaking again
I’m currently using a Lomo Biolam from my former home in Russia, I don’t think you have touched on Russian built microscopes. Personally I am in love! They are very well made and with a low second hand purchase cost you get a lot for very little. Often they come with a carry case in wood or aluminum and upgrades are plentiful, binocular heads, phase contrast condenser as well as many other accessories can be purchased for under $300 . I highly recommend and if you ever have the opportunity to try or review a Biolam I’d say it’s worth your time
the adjustment on the right hand side of the head is not a diopter adjustment but is an adjustment for the interoccular distance as set on the head. Chinese microscopes are not necessarily bad-but there is a quality control issue.
Thank you so much for doing these videos. However I would recommend using a handheld stabilizer for your B roll such as a dji osmo as it is too shaky. Or you could do it in post processing using Adobe After Effects . The shakiness is too much . Also look into 3 Point Lighting.
I agree and am looking for a solution. The hand-held footage was done using a mobile phone camera but this one only has 720p. I thought about image stabilization but was worried about losing resolution. Maybe a handheld stabilizer is something that I can invest. I am still figuring out the lighting part. I have a 10W LED bar and 2 LED desk lamps but the real problem is the bright window in the background (back lighting). I am trying to figure out a system here. I will possibly add another LED lamp or better yet maybe a ring light. Sometimes the desk lamps reflect in my glasses and this also looks strange a bit. So I am working to improve this.
One of the ways bad knock offs happen is that old decommissioned equipment, spec sheets, and engineering samples are sold off after they are no longer good for production or a production has run its course. Unless the OEM contractually specifies and verifies that old dies, mills, and samples are destroyed, and spec sheets are protected they get recycled into a no name market. From there lack of quality quality controls and cost saving measures further deteriorate the final products.
I bought an AMSCOPE. The light switch was broken when it arrived. The front-back stage gear broke after a few uses, looks like the metal was crystallized and simply shattered. Those are the only 2 issues so far. The switch problem doesn't bother me because I work on electronics and have the exact replacement in my inventory. The stage is a big issue, because I can't fix it easily. I called AMSCOPE, and talked to a person, but the problem was not resolved.
These problems do not occur often if the equipment is properly maintained. I have been using a relatively cheap ($ 260) microscope for years and have never had a malfunction. Good advice, even if you buy mid-range gear or upper-mid-range gear (low range would be toys), make sure there are spare parts on the market and affordable. Greetings.
1. Not all microscopy hobbyist can afford buying a high end microscope. 2. I agree that some China made microscopes are of high-quality/durable and reliable.
Lessons learned. Good information and thank you. Its always about the euro's or dollars, each of us wanting the best deal. Your point is well taken. One has to consider the risk of no name products. I have been watching your videos learning as much purchasing three very nice microscopes after a painful experience with a cheap one. Each of these microscopes have different capabilities and use in mind. Cost is always a consideration, looking around I found the same microscopes I wanted for much less money, but was suspect of the quality for the price. I selected a state side distributor with a clearly branded scope and bearing a 5 year warranty. Again thank you for this information. I am still awaiting delivery of the last two scopes. I did purchase a lower cost 5X-20X fixed binocular microscope first, this fill the need for fine detailing and assembly work, following your advise. I Wish you the best. Keep on teaching.
Ha. I did the objectives rotating clockwise method simply because it felt right. It had been quite a while since I had used a microscope, but I guess maybe I still had some muscle memory there.
Yes. This became obvious only after some months and then one can always argue that the student's broke them.... And indeed mishandling might have contributed. But some microscopes are more tolerant than others.
Very common problems all. The four major companies can’t match the cheap copies (copying IP right down to the mounting bayonets) so unfortunately institutions, trying to save money, go for cheap copies. I’ve had profs tell me that it’s actually easier to get more money in 5 years than it is to get 50% more now … go figure.
For the stuck adjuster ( old microscope ) I would tip it upside down and spray a bit of crc in and around it, for the guiding wires ( new microscope ) I would use a bit of silicone or builders glue, although yer the new ones are no good
The bad microscope shown in the video looks very much like OMAX 40-2000x. Do you think that OMAX is a good microscope? Some people complain on the insufficient lighting at 1000x. Some advices on solving it?
I am completely new to the world of microscopes and I try to learn as much as I can before I buy myself a microscope Which key features to look at when I examine a microscope before purchase, and which large microscope companies are generally considered reliable?
Sounds like the mechanical parts, gears, bearings and such weren't machined to high enough tolerances. Just goes toshow two things. You can't judge a book by its cover. And they just don't make consumer goods with the same quality and attention to detail that they once did. Very sad. In any event, I'd be looking for my money back and get better microscopes. For the sake of your students' education if nothing else. There's nothing worse than trying to do an experiment properly while trying to fight against faulty equipment. Especially if you're new to the field.
My guess is the more common practice of rejecting the bad models and refuse to brand them, but they salvage them by selling them to another company who will venture to finish them up and sell them as a no name brand.
I must admit to just buying microscopes again after selling a lot!!!But just sticking to the older models::just bought a g&s binocular one:"everything complete"and everything works like brand new!!!!Optics which are original"clean and sharp!!!!lighting works" very bright!!Condenser works smoothly:As does all adjustments and all metal and heavy!!!!Good old british craftmanship!!!!!Absolutely solid!!!!All for £76.99post free;from a charity shop as well!!!
Think sir....u help me a lot...175/185/195...with the same amount of zoom but the picture quality is different..its like the bigger objective tube...more clear the image would be.
If the manufacturer is afraid to put their name on their product, that's your first clue not to buy it. Sometimes you get lucky but most of the time not.😲
Dumb question time. Is it really necessary to dismantle the microscopes to lubricate? Why can't we just use lots of oil to wash out the gunk? Do like sewing machines. Open part of the casing to reveal the gears. Turn it all one way, apply oil at the other end, turn the opposite direction, repeat a few times.
Hey There, Great Video! Just wanted to ask is the Amscope B120B or the Omax 40x - 2000x or the Swift SW380T better? (I am looking for a microscope that is the best quality in a cheap price) (I want to keep a microscope that i buy for over 5 years so I am not considering these cheap microscopes) What do you think is the best?
3 years? I just bought a Lietz from the 1960's. I'll bet I can get it working proper in no time. There is Old Gold out there-but yes this ain't for the non-technican types. And yes I still see the crap I had as a kid in the 70's on the market too.
I think I bought that one and already sent it back. It was listed right next to your recommendation and said "Amazon Choice Award Winning etc. " Either way I sent it back right away and got a refund and the one you recommend is on it's way. ✌❤🍄🐛🦋🌈 it was sloppily put together. Things didn't align perfectly and the markings on the nobs didn't match...it looks fancy if you don't look closely but it was a mess! For a science instrument!
Před 5 lety
Copy and paste with errors. That is like when someone is trying to recover data from a dead computer. Take out the hard drive from the dead computer. Put it in an enclosure and connect it to a working computer. Use the Windows OS to copy and paste files from the enclosed drive to the working computer. Errors may happen!!!! I actually lost lots of my web projects doing this. It is better to use like a backup software or recover software or at least get a better copy and paste app.
Enclosure? USB makes everything slower. Open the casing of your desktop, and plug in the other hard disk directly. Of course this may not be possible if all you have is a laptop.
To be fair, if you only bought one to sample, you may not have found any problems with it since the issues mentioned were spread over a handful out of 20 or so microscopes.
Hi there. Thanks for the video. You say that you can't recommend a microscope because there are too many. I'm just wondering if there are too many in the budget range to recommend. I've seen a couple online, but I'm afraid to purchase, as I can't afford to get stuck with a poor one. Please advise, and thanks for your great videos.
@@somyongkim259 you obviously don't... but if it was about 1-2mm i think you would not mention it, or would you? Please enlighten us, frequently microscope dropper you are... ;-)
Phew! Got a headache now - reallly. You look intelligent but the clue was right there: No-Name ie generic. Moving from Olympus, a solid reliable long-lasting 40-year's use microscope, to this nightmare was a big mistake obviously. I couldn't get to the end of your vid as l really did get a headache (never suffer from headaches!) But l hope you _resolved_ this issue (sorry😃) and got your money back?
Wow, I am a fan of yours.. I always watch your videos for additional infos and to boost my skill as well. Im quite sad because we dont have microscope, we are able to see what our naked eye can. But hopefully we can afford to buy one. You are so amazing in teaching science. I hope that we can have microscope so that I can do what you do for me to learn more.
I just discovered the Microbehunter channel and am enjoying it very much. Not wanting to be negative, but I find that while the lighting of your videos is generally pleasing, the reflection of the LED ringlight in your glasses is very distracting. It may be possible to eliminate this by placing the ringlight off the reflective axis of the camera. If necessary you could add a second ringlight symmetrically opposite.Just a suggestion for an outstanding channel cast.
I know this video is 2 years old but I would like to say before you buy anything you do your research . Read all the reviews do research and research. Before you buy anything that is worth a lot of money . then it turns out to be garbage.
Would you be willing to give any comments on this microscope: Svbony SV605 Microscope, 80x-1600x LED Compound Binocular Microscope? It sells for 127 Euro. Thanks, Matthhew
Diopter adjustment is needed only for one eyepiece. It is to compensate for different eyesight. It does not matter which eye is worse than the other. The fine focus knob is used to adjust the focus for the eyes as well.
PSA: Cheap =/= Value Cheap = Less monitary cost. Value = Functions as intended, for lowest price on the market, whilst optimally performing. A product that is cheap that functions 50% of the time is not a good value simply because it will not work half of the time you require it to. Not to mention - further costs to repair, or replace the product will require you to likely invest more in a faulty, 'cheaper' product than a decent quality one that functions as intended that is covered under warranty for the next 3 or so years.
@@smokemirrors1531 your question is a bit ambiguous: sarcastic or candid? I'll assume the latter. If I'm wrong, disregard. I'm an engineer and have multiple products and parts thereof manufactured in many parts of the world. Fur China I have the impression that they see presence and not function. If it looks sort of similar to the drawings and the parts are there, they are done and feel they should be paid. Whether stuff falls off later is not really an issue because they've already been paid. I haven't really experienced this with other cultures. One may argue good stuff is made in China too - and I agree. The problems described here just aligns perfectly with my experience. It is *very* difficult and *very* risky to have things manufactured in China.
They are places producing worse products than China. The point of outsourcing from China is about cost effectiveness. You can pay 10 from a Chinese unknown brand, and that has 90% chance to work for 5 years, or 30 from a quality brand that has 95% chance to work for 5 years. Most products are not for mission critical usages, so it makes sense to buy cost effective ones.
@@y.z.6517 There might be where places than China. I have never heard of them. In the trunk of my car I have roughly 200 aluminium units out of a batch of 600. They are to be scrapped because they are either scratched, the colouring is bad, holes are not drilled parallel, they damaged the work piece with a bandsaw, the countersink is the wrong depth, incorrect drill diameter, wrong colour, missing threads. This is just the problems I remember. Besides this they were delivered month later than agreed. It's not necessarily a matter of 90 or 95% surviving after x years. They never pass QC. They've cost is a fortune. When you say there's where places, what do you have in mind?
@@yottaforce You purchased a batch of aluminium units from the same manufacturer. The same shoddy manufacturer produced the same shoddy quality. Generalizing one (1) seller to every Chinese product is terribly unrepresentative. I have dozens of products in my room that was made in China. I remember that a couple of products was broken in 1-2 years, and I was very angry. Many worked after 5 years, and I'm still using them. A while ago, I purchased a pair of in-ear phones for 30, from an European manufacturer, and one of the ear phones stopped working. Then I've always been purchasing the cheapest phone for below 10. Some broke for months, others lasted for years. Then I stick to the manufacturers whose ear phones last for years. And I only pay 1/3 as much. I call that the real win. There are quality manufacturers and shoddy manfacturers in every country. The optimal strategy is to buy 1 sample from a seller. If it broke shortly, change seller. Else stick to that seller.
Yes. We learned it the hard way. We bought new scopes later and ordered a sample of each first to make a decision. We returned the one that we did not choose (agreed this with the supplier).
This reminds me so much of the copied guns the Chinese make, one had a safety’s like a 1911, but they clearly didn’t know what it was for so it just had a do nothing button on it, and the safety was somewhere else haha.
He did not mention what are the price difference.... Whoever sold them to you may sell you toy microscope or very low end for poor chap. If Olympus shell at the same price, I won't hesitate buy Olympus.
wer ein gebrauchtes Mikrosop kauft der muss damit rechnen das er die Mechanik reparieren oder neu einstellen muss. Mechanische Defekte wie sie zeigen muessen normalerweise vom Verkaeufer deklariert werden. Ausser dem sollten sie mal ein Video machen wie man die Mechanik eines Mikroskop entoelt und neu einfettet.
I wonder to where the old microscope went. I am looking for a second hand here but nowhere to find here in Bangkok, I emigrated to here from Europe leaving everything behind. Gave away everything, and here I am trying to find some gear that I can use, but many to no avail. Ebay? gosh, 3000x magnification, dont hit me with that.
All overkill. And messing up the picture, refractionindex won't let it magnify thart much. It's like looking through bioculairs but not on your eyes. So sarcasm sure only Superman can magnify that high.
If you look on Yahoo Auction in Japan there are some good bargains,especially Nikon and Olympus. I just saw a Olympus CX 40 like the one in the video for about 90USD. No objectives though. Nikon Labophots and Optiphots go for about 100USD. Its easy to translate the Japanese. BTW The big Thai Microscope Society is on at the Rama Hotel,Bangkok towards the end of March!!
@@maibeppu9 Thanks for the great tip, in fact it is not far away from my home. I just checked their website, and the entrance fee for admission is a bit on the high side for me. 145usd. Which would better be spend on buying a scope. Even then just that is an half month salary.
Yes a bit expensive. In the English microscope society they often have second hand ones for sale. The BH series are still good and the CH which came out later and were aimed at schools and institutions.Of course you can buy them quite cheaply on the Japan yahoo auction but its doubtful if they will ship the goods. Paying as well might be a problem.I did see some very good scopes at a resellers in Singapore. Its called the 9.99 on e bay shop and some scopes are very reasonable. You could easily je down there and back for the poastage price if he does counter sales?
The school bought them, and they were not inspected before purchase. A mistake. We recently replaced them and ordered inspection scopes first and then made a decision based on this.
Welchen Sinn macht es Ojekte, die schon 100000-mal und viel besser gesehen und dargestellt wurden unter dem eigenen Mikroskop zu betrachten, wenn man diese Dinge viel einfacher, billiger, besser und komfortabler im Internet sehen und downloden kann. In der lediglich betrachtenden Mikroskopie gewinnt doch nur der welcher das meiste Geld hat und sich das beste auf dem Markt zur Verfuegung stehende Mikroskop leisten kann. Dies Materialschlacht ist sinn- und zwecklos. Zudem sind bekannte Dinge heute viel genauer mit einem konfokalen Laserscanning Fluorescenz-mikroskop, der Rasterelektronenmikroskopie etc veroeffentlicht und allseits bekannt. Kindern die Mikroskopie zu lehren ist jedoch ein hohes und ehrenwertes Ziel. Dabei sollte man aber nicht an den Kosten eines guten Mikropskopes sparen, sondern zu einem gebrauchten Forschungsmikroskop der 80-iger Jahre des 19. Jahrhunderts der Fa Zeiss oder Leitz greifen, denn sonst machen sich die Kids nur ihre Augen kaputt. Ein kleines gebrauchtes transportables Stereomikroskop neben einer mobilen Laboraustattung fuer Probenentnahme und Praeparation vor Ort leistet draussen in der Natur bei der Feldforschung gute Dienste. Auf eine fotografische Ausruestung sollte man dabei zunaechst voellig verzichten, denn es ist nicht nur fuer Kinder viel lehrreicher das Gesehenene von Hand selbst zu zeichnen. Insbesondere sollte aber die Praeparationtechnik immer im Vordergrund stehen und nicht die Bildgebung, denn jedes Bild ist nur so gut wie die Praeparation und Probennahme des Objektes. Fuer mich macht Mikroskopie nur Sinn, wenn ich dabei etwas Neues entdecken kann und veroeffentliche. Aber auch dabei ist das Mikroskop nur ein technisches Mittel zum Zweck und darf nie im Vordergrund stehen. Vorraussetzung etwas Neues zu finden sind aber fundierte Kenntnisse der Biologie, eine hervorragende handwerkliche Praeparationstechnik und das geschulte Auge, um draussen in der Natur Neues zu sehen und zu finden. Bei ihren Lehrvideos fuer Kinder sollten sie mehr Aufmerksamkeit darauf lenken anstatt immer wieder die end- und sinnlose Diskussion ueber die mikroskopische Technik zu fuehren.
No, because there are simply too many. The basic features are also mostly the same. If you get one from a known retailer, then you should mostly be fine. The microscope in the video was so terrible that there was not even a retailer / brand printed on. I guess it was some kind of 2nd rate batch or something like this.
You cannot convince me, for one second, that, with all these mechanical problems, the optics of these scopes are good. Microscope mechanics are 1000x simpler than the optics.
The optics are manufactured by a separate company and then bought and attached. They are too specialized. So a bad mechanically made microscope can have reasonable optics connected.
If you're gonna take a chance why not just buy 1 instead of 20? Lol. Not sure why you would buy something based on the look. Samsung phone clones are no where near the quality of the original phones but they look convincing. Don't do that. Lol.
Sounds like a bogus/ cheap China product. There are however good and dependable China brand microscopes that I've come across and theyre OK esp for learning purposes. AmScope brand, for one.
Hi mate, thank you very much for your great videos and information. It is appreciated. I have a question if you could please answer. I need a proper microscope for Gemology, to see through stones like quartz, emerald, etc... and around what prices please? cheers mate.
scopes can only see through thin sections, otherwise to look at stone you need an "inspection scope," they sell them as circuit board inspection scopes but theyre good for geology. Youll want up to 100x zoom at the least, if not 400x or higher. A bright light is necessary also.
Made in china by people who do not get paid very well for what they do. Dont buy a musical instrument off amazon without finding out where it comes from either
My school decommissioned a bunch of old C.O.C microscopes a year or so ago. They dumped them all in the auditorium. Luckily I was in theatre class then and I had access to the auditorium. I asked the housekeeper what they're going to do with those and he told me they'll probably throw them away and that I could take one. Most of the microscopes were missing parts, only 2 out of the 10 had eyepieces. Every lunch break I had worked combining the best of the microscope parts to make a fully functional one, and then took it home! I already took some photos of my own blood cells haha
That sounds awesome, and now you probably know how to fix it if it breaks.
@@garethbaus5471 Yup! I grabbed a bunch of spare parts too!
Aw dude good job with your C.O.C.! I’m so proud of you for taking care of your C.O.C. right! Good job, dude, keep it up and your C.O.C. will serve you well for years. I wish I had a C.O.C.
Me and a friend did roughly this with some old Dell desktops that we ended up using as a server. Those things had 2 identical capacitors in the power supply and the motherboard. 1 of 2 would fail and 2 computers yielded one functioning one every time.
what is a COC microscope ????? search Google and nothing concrete appears what is it ??
When I worked in a factory we would have to take parts from units that failed and put them together with fresh parts, or other failed parts, and keep testing in an effort keep scrap and rework to a minimum. This worked most of the time and we got passing test results. These microscopes remind me of a nightmare job I had where we were forced to exhaust every possible combination of parts before we were allowed to scrap anything. But this looks very likely that someone went dumpster diving and assembled those microscopes from parts that should have been recycled.
Good grief! Who did you work for that was that crazy about the bottom line?!
I mean, I get that tossing parts loses money, but so does NEEDLESS work and using parts that were sub par. If the thing is broken, then send it back to the manufacturer because they didn't do a good job on it, and should know about it.
@@woodworkerroyer8497 he is working for the manufacturer.
I was searching up unboxing videos for the Amscope T340B-DK-LED and this video popped up, and my face just went: 😨
$127 Canadian dollars got me no name stereo scope from Amazon ... Surprisingly it works pretty well! Biggest complaint was there was no eye correction adjustment for the binocular correction. However, a very light movement of the left piece in and out has worked and the correction can me made stable with a bit of "tape". Optics reasonable and viewing video channels like this one has helped me make the best use of the equipment I have now.
Still better than the one I got from Toys 'R' Us all those years ago.
A second hand Zeiss or Leica microscope, you get between a 600 and a 1000 $
It will still last a lifetime. Much better than the new junk, they sell for 600$.
Buying cheap is buying expensive in the long run.
@@rogerhessens2920 nah some cheap microscopes last a lifetime if you take care of them
@@rogerhessens2920 Not the case ,now if i sell you the low quality one for 1000000 usd what do you say?
It is not a microscope, it is an MSO (Microscope Shaped Object). I've seen anvils made in China that were unusable, I can;t imagine what they would do to a microscope.
Really useful and honest video. The good news is the optics is good. That is the only thing cannot be fixed easily.
I really feel offended that someone would sell such a "buzzkill" microscope for a child/student to use, who is trying to become a scientist or similar. Unreal. It reminds me of crappy microscopes in my childhood (crappy mirrors and generally rusty). Must have left emotional scars.
jesus, if thats all it takes to give you emotional scars, your a vagina.
If I had to guess I'd say they put diopter adjustments on both eyepieces to save cost. That way they can use the same parts for both eyepeces. Where if one didn't have the adjustment, it would need different parts and hence cost more to machine the parts.
i bought a microscope like this, the light broke within a week, i sent it back to the manufacturer and they fixed it, got it back and it worked but another week before breaking again
I’m currently using a Lomo Biolam from my former home in Russia, I don’t think you have touched on Russian built microscopes. Personally I am in love! They are very well made and with a low second hand purchase cost you get a lot for very little. Often they come with a carry case in wood or aluminum and upgrades are plentiful, binocular heads, phase contrast condenser as well as many other accessories can be purchased for under $300 . I highly recommend and if you ever have the opportunity to try or review a Biolam I’d say it’s worth your time
the adjustment on the right hand side of the head is not a diopter adjustment but is an adjustment for the interoccular distance as set on the head. Chinese microscopes are not necessarily bad-but there is a quality control issue.
Thank you so much for doing these videos.
However I would recommend using a handheld stabilizer for your B roll such as a dji osmo as it is too shaky. Or you could do it in post processing using Adobe After Effects . The shakiness is too much . Also look into 3 Point Lighting.
I agree and am looking for a solution. The hand-held footage was done using a mobile phone camera but this one only has 720p. I thought about image stabilization but was worried about losing resolution. Maybe a handheld stabilizer is something that I can invest.
I am still figuring out the lighting part. I have a 10W LED bar and 2 LED desk lamps but the real problem is the bright window in the background (back lighting). I am trying to figure out a system here. I will possibly add another LED lamp or better yet maybe a ring light. Sometimes the desk lamps reflect in my glasses and this also looks strange a bit. So I am working to improve this.
'No-name' strikes again...
One of the ways bad knock offs happen is that old decommissioned equipment, spec sheets, and engineering samples are sold off after they are no longer good for production or a production has run its course. Unless the OEM contractually specifies and verifies that old dies, mills, and samples are destroyed, and spec sheets are protected they get recycled into a no name market. From there lack of quality quality controls and cost saving measures further deteriorate the final products.
I bought an AMSCOPE. The light switch was broken when it arrived. The front-back stage gear broke after a few uses, looks like the metal was crystallized and simply shattered. Those are the only 2 issues so far. The switch problem doesn't bother me because I work on electronics and have the exact replacement in my inventory. The stage is a big issue, because I can't fix it easily. I called AMSCOPE, and talked to a person, but the problem was not resolved.
I would return the microscope as it is. When buying things over Amazon then the returns are generally quite easy as Amazon will handle this.
These problems do not occur often if the equipment is properly maintained.
I have been using a relatively cheap ($ 260) microscope for years and have never had a malfunction.
Good advice, even if you buy mid-range gear or upper-mid-range gear (low range would be toys), make sure there are spare parts on the market and affordable. Greetings.
My take from this. Don't buy cheap junk and stick to the quality equipment you were using happily for 30 years.
"for educational purposes"
1. Not all microscopy hobbyist can afford buying a high end microscope.
2. I agree that some China made microscopes are of high-quality/durable and reliable.
True but I just watched a dude build a 4nm electron microscope for around 2000, so perhaps everyone can afford to build a high end optical scope
Lessons learned. Good information and thank you. Its always about the euro's or dollars, each of us wanting the best deal. Your point is well taken. One has to consider the risk of no name products. I have been watching your videos learning as much purchasing three very nice microscopes after a painful experience with a cheap one. Each of these microscopes have different capabilities and use in mind. Cost is always a consideration, looking around I found the same microscopes I wanted for much less money, but was suspect of the quality for the price. I selected a state side distributor with a clearly branded scope and bearing a 5 year warranty. Again thank you for this information. I am still awaiting delivery of the last two scopes. I did purchase a lower cost 5X-20X fixed binocular microscope first, this fill the need for fine detailing and assembly work, following your advise. I Wish you the best. Keep on teaching.
Ha. I did the objectives rotating clockwise method simply because it felt right. It had been quite a while since I had used a microscope, but I guess maybe I still had some muscle memory there.
I suppose the various problems did not become obvious until it was too late to return the microscopes for a refund?
Yes. This became obvious only after some months and then one can always argue that the student's broke them.... And indeed mishandling might have contributed. But some microscopes are more tolerant than others.
Very common problems all. The four major companies can’t match the cheap copies (copying IP right down to the mounting bayonets) so unfortunately institutions, trying to save money, go for cheap copies. I’ve had profs tell me that it’s actually easier to get more money in 5 years than it is to get 50% more now … go figure.
For the stuck adjuster ( old microscope ) I would tip it upside down and spray a bit of crc in and around it, for the guiding wires ( new microscope ) I would use a bit of silicone or builders glue, although yer the new ones are no good
The bad microscope shown in the video looks very much like OMAX 40-2000x. Do you think that OMAX is a good microscope? Some people complain on the insufficient lighting at 1000x. Some advices on solving it?
Hey, did you buy it?
If you put them all together you might have one good microscope... Maybe?
You definitely get what you pay for!
I am completely new to the world of microscopes and I try to learn as much as I can before I buy myself a microscope
Which key features to look at when I examine a microscope before purchase, and which large microscope companies are generally considered reliable?
Sounds like the mechanical parts, gears, bearings and such weren't machined to high enough tolerances. Just goes toshow two things. You can't judge a book by its cover. And they just don't make consumer goods with the same quality and attention to detail that they once did. Very sad.
In any event, I'd be looking for my money back and get better microscopes. For the sake of your students' education if nothing else. There's nothing worse than trying to do an experiment properly while trying to fight against faulty equipment. Especially if you're new to the field.
My guess is the more common practice of rejecting the bad models and refuse to brand them, but they salvage them by selling them to another company who will venture to finish them up and sell them as a no name brand.
I must admit to just buying microscopes again after selling a lot!!!But just sticking to the older models::just bought a g&s binocular one:"everything complete"and everything works like brand new!!!!Optics which are original"clean and sharp!!!!lighting works" very bright!!Condenser works smoothly:As does all adjustments and all metal and heavy!!!!Good old british craftmanship!!!!!Absolutely solid!!!!All for £76.99post free;from a charity shop as well!!!
Jazus just get a pair of gloves and a drum of oil and with a little elbow Grease Clean the original microscope.
Think sir....u help me a lot...175/185/195...with the same amount of zoom but the picture quality is different..its like the bigger objective tube...more clear the image would be.
If the manufacturer is afraid to put their name on their product, that's your first clue not to buy it. Sometimes you get lucky but most of the time not.😲
Dumb question time. Is it really necessary to dismantle the microscopes to lubricate? Why can't we just use lots of oil to wash out the gunk? Do like sewing machines. Open part of the casing to reveal the gears. Turn it all one way, apply oil at the other end, turn the opposite direction, repeat a few times.
Hey There, Great Video! Just wanted to ask is the Amscope B120B or the Omax 40x - 2000x or the Swift SW380T better? (I am looking for a microscope that is the best quality in a cheap price) (I want to keep a microscope that i buy for over 5 years so I am not considering these cheap microscopes) What do you think is the best?
B120 is a great microscope I have one myself.
3 years? I just bought a Lietz from the 1960's. I'll bet I can get it working proper in no time. There is Old Gold out there-but yes this ain't for the non-technican types. And yes I still see the crap I had as a kid in the 70's on the market too.
Low prices are the choice of many people, but do not apply to those who want security, long-lasting quality.
I think I bought that one and already sent it back. It was listed right next to your recommendation and said "Amazon Choice Award Winning etc. " Either way I sent it back right away and got a refund and the one you recommend is on it's way. ✌❤🍄🐛🦋🌈 it was sloppily put together. Things didn't align perfectly and the markings on the nobs didn't match...it looks fancy if you don't look closely but it was a mess! For a science instrument!
Copy and paste with errors. That is like when someone is trying to recover data from a dead computer. Take out the hard drive from the dead computer. Put it in an enclosure and connect it to a working computer. Use the Windows OS to copy and paste files from the enclosed drive to the working computer. Errors may happen!!!! I actually lost lots of my web projects doing this. It is better to use like a backup software or recover software or at least get a better copy and paste app.
Enclosure? USB makes everything slower. Open the casing of your desktop, and plug in the other hard disk directly.
Of course this may not be possible if all you have is a laptop.
They same was done with windmills bought for 4000 dollars and sold for 70000 dollars.
Very important video, Mr. Microbehunter!
To be fair, if you only bought one to sample, you may not have found any problems with it since the issues mentioned were spread over a handful out of 20 or so microscopes.
lesson learned: by one for evaluation purposes before spend the whole budget.
Gr8 videos. Keep up the good work...god bless you
Oh my god! You ran them on ebay??????
If you turn the head of the scope to opposite view setting (180) wouldn't the objectives go counterclockwise?
Hi there. Thanks for the video. You say that you can't recommend a microscope because there are too many. I'm just wondering if there are too many in the budget range to recommend. I've seen a couple online, but I'm afraid to purchase, as I can't afford to get stuck with a poor one. Please advise, and thanks for your great videos.
@@somyongkim259
Why the flik-flak you dropped your microscope several times? I don't get it...
@@somyongkim259 you obviously don't... but if it was about 1-2mm i think you would not mention it, or would you? Please enlighten us, frequently microscope dropper you are... ;-)
@@somyongkim259 don't take it to serious bro, all good... i'm joking around a little bit... cheers ;-)
Phew! Got a headache now - reallly. You look intelligent but the clue was right there: No-Name ie generic. Moving from Olympus, a solid reliable long-lasting 40-year's use microscope, to this nightmare was a big mistake obviously. I couldn't get to the end of your vid as l really did get a headache (never suffer from headaches!) But l hope you _resolved_ this issue (sorry😃) and got your money back?
did all of those issues happen with all microscopes?
Wow, I am a fan of yours.. I always watch your videos for additional infos and to boost my skill as well. Im quite sad because we dont have microscope, we are able to see what our naked eye can. But hopefully we can afford to buy one. You are so amazing in teaching science. I hope that we can have microscope so that I can do what you do for me to learn more.
You should have just got a tech in to disassemble the old microscopes and re lube them
taking apart microskope is not very difficult:) little carefull and accuracy is enought plus proper oil and grease
Hello there, I got recomended one of your video's, and I'm glad it happened, I subscribed to your channel!
I’d have sent them all back as they were not of merchantable quality.
I just discovered the Microbehunter channel and am enjoying it very much. Not wanting to be negative, but I find that while the lighting of your videos is generally pleasing, the reflection of the LED ringlight in your glasses is very distracting. It may be possible to eliminate this by placing the ringlight off the reflective axis of the camera. If necessary you could add a second ringlight symmetrically opposite.Just a suggestion for an outstanding channel cast.
"We bought this for educational purposes".
"So we can learn".
Seller: "So...it worked as intended?".
Are fisher micromster microscopes any good? I bought one for 100 bucks off craigslist
I hope you sent them back and got the school's money back, Oliver.
I know this video is 2 years old but I would like to say before you buy anything you do your research . Read all the reviews do research and research. Before you buy anything that is worth a lot of money . then it turns out to be garbage.
So Oliver, what kind of phase contrast microscope do you recommend for observing nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria?
No specific brand recommended. For observing bacteria specifically a 100x phase objective would be good.
@@Microbehunter do I necessarily need phase contrast microscope if I want to observe live non stained cultures?
That looks like an OMAX microscope at 9:03. I thought those were really good microscopes...
10:09 Japan :)
That's a different microscope. He was showing an example of how the part is supposed to shaped
If you're trying to slight Japan or some shit, read the text on the bottom, "Correct design".
Japan makes very Precision Instruments!
Even Japan has more pride, than to ship crap like that.
It hurts to see that u wanna cry badly but hold urself very hardly :(
Would you be willing to give any comments on this microscope: Svbony SV605 Microscope, 80x-1600x LED Compound Binocular Microscope? It sells for 127 Euro. Thanks, Matthhew
Can someone explain to me whether or not it is important to have the diopter adjustment on both eyepieces? Also, is the focus lock needed?
Diopter adjustment is needed only for one eyepiece. It is to compensate for different eyesight. It does not matter which eye is worse than the other. The fine focus knob is used to adjust the focus for the eyes as well.
@@Microbehunter Ohhh, ok, I see! Thank you! XD
PSA: Cheap =/= Value
Cheap = Less monitary cost.
Value = Functions as intended, for lowest price on the market, whilst optimally performing.
A product that is cheap that functions 50% of the time is not a good value simply because it will not work half of the time you require it to.
Not to mention - further costs to repair, or replace the product will require you to likely invest more in a faulty, 'cheaper' product than a decent quality one that functions as intended that is covered under warranty for the next 3 or so years.
I'm 100% sure it's manufactured in China.
Really - Why ?
@@smokemirrors1531 your question is a bit ambiguous: sarcastic or candid? I'll assume the latter. If I'm wrong, disregard.
I'm an engineer and have multiple products and parts thereof manufactured in many parts of the world.
Fur China I have the impression that they see presence and not function. If it looks sort of similar to the drawings and the parts are there, they are done and feel they should be paid. Whether stuff falls off later is not really an issue because they've already been paid.
I haven't really experienced this with other cultures.
One may argue good stuff is made in China too - and I agree. The problems described here just aligns perfectly with my experience. It is *very* difficult and *very* risky to have things manufactured in China.
They are places producing worse products than China. The point of outsourcing from China is about cost effectiveness. You can pay 10 from a Chinese unknown brand, and that has 90% chance to work for 5 years, or 30 from a quality brand that has 95% chance to work for 5 years.
Most products are not for mission critical usages, so it makes sense to buy cost effective ones.
@@y.z.6517 There might be where places than China. I have never heard of them. In the trunk of my car I have roughly 200 aluminium units out of a batch of 600. They are to be scrapped because they are either scratched, the colouring is bad, holes are not drilled parallel, they damaged the work piece with a bandsaw, the countersink is the wrong depth, incorrect drill diameter, wrong colour, missing threads. This is just the problems I remember. Besides this they were delivered month later than agreed.
It's not necessarily a matter of 90 or 95% surviving after x years. They never pass QC. They've cost is a fortune.
When you say there's where places, what do you have in mind?
@@yottaforce You purchased a batch of aluminium units from the same manufacturer. The same shoddy manufacturer produced the same shoddy quality. Generalizing one (1) seller to every Chinese product is terribly unrepresentative.
I have dozens of products in my room that was made in China. I remember that a couple of products was broken in 1-2 years, and I was very angry. Many worked after 5 years, and I'm still using them.
A while ago, I purchased a pair of in-ear phones for 30, from an European manufacturer, and one of the ear phones stopped working. Then I've always been purchasing the cheapest phone for below 10. Some broke for months, others lasted for years. Then I stick to the manufacturers whose ear phones last for years. And I only pay 1/3 as much. I call that the real win.
There are quality manufacturers and shoddy manfacturers in every country. The optimal strategy is to buy 1 sample from a seller. If it broke shortly, change seller. Else stick to that seller.
Note to self: don't buy 20 scopes from the same seller at the same time if it's a new supplier.
Yes. We learned it the hard way. We bought new scopes later and ordered a sample of each first to make a decision. We returned the one that we did not choose (agreed this with the supplier).
This reminds me so much of the copied guns the Chinese make, one had a safety’s like a 1911, but they clearly didn’t know what it was for so it just had a do nothing button on it, and the safety was somewhere else haha.
What microscope are you referring to in this video?
It's a no-name microscope. No brand.
He did not mention what are the price difference.... Whoever sold them to you may sell you toy microscope or very low end for poor chap. If Olympus shell at the same price, I won't hesitate buy Olympus.
wer ein gebrauchtes Mikrosop kauft der muss damit rechnen das er die Mechanik reparieren oder neu einstellen muss. Mechanische Defekte wie sie zeigen muessen normalerweise vom Verkaeufer deklariert werden. Ausser dem sollten sie mal ein Video machen wie man die Mechanik eines Mikroskop entoelt und neu einfettet.
I wonder to where the old microscope went. I am looking for a second hand here but nowhere to find here in Bangkok, I emigrated to here from Europe leaving everything behind. Gave away everything, and here I am trying to find some gear that I can use, but many to no avail.
Ebay? gosh, 3000x magnification, dont hit me with that.
Imgert Berg 3000x? Pfft! I know a guy who can get you 12000x real cheap! Best deal!!!
All overkill.
And messing up the picture, refractionindex won't let it magnify thart much. It's like looking through bioculairs but not on your eyes.
So sarcasm sure only Superman can magnify that high.
If you look on Yahoo Auction in Japan there are some good bargains,especially Nikon and Olympus. I just saw a Olympus CX 40 like the one in the video for about 90USD. No objectives though. Nikon Labophots and Optiphots go for about 100USD. Its easy to translate the Japanese. BTW The big Thai Microscope Society is on at the Rama Hotel,Bangkok towards the end of March!!
@@maibeppu9 Thanks for the great tip, in fact it is not far away from my home. I just checked their website, and the entrance fee for admission is a bit on the high side for me. 145usd. Which would better be spend on buying a scope. Even then just that is an half month salary.
Yes a bit expensive. In the English microscope society they often have second hand ones for sale. The BH series are still good and the CH which came out later and were aimed at schools and institutions.Of course you can buy them quite cheaply on the Japan yahoo auction but its doubtful if they will ship the goods. Paying as well might be a problem.I did see some very good scopes at a resellers in Singapore. Its called the 9.99 on e bay shop and some scopes are very reasonable. You could easily je down there and back for the poastage price if he does counter sales?
why did you buy them , didn't you sample one first ?
The school bought them, and they were not inspected before purchase. A mistake. We recently replaced them and ordered inspection scopes first and then made a decision based on this.
You know what else is terrible? Wearing eyeglasses while being lit with ring lights, newb!
WTF I could have made a better product when I was 10yrs old even
LOL.... looks like an OMAX...and I was seriously considering to buy one of that brand.
Welchen Sinn macht es Ojekte, die schon 100000-mal und viel besser gesehen und dargestellt wurden
unter dem eigenen Mikroskop zu betrachten, wenn man diese Dinge viel einfacher, billiger, besser
und komfortabler im Internet sehen und downloden kann. In der lediglich betrachtenden Mikroskopie gewinnt doch
nur der welcher das meiste Geld hat und sich das beste auf dem Markt zur Verfuegung stehende Mikroskop
leisten kann. Dies Materialschlacht ist sinn- und zwecklos. Zudem sind bekannte Dinge heute viel genauer mit einem konfokalen Laserscanning Fluorescenz-mikroskop,
der Rasterelektronenmikroskopie etc veroeffentlicht und allseits bekannt.
Kindern die Mikroskopie zu lehren ist jedoch ein hohes und ehrenwertes Ziel. Dabei sollte man aber nicht an den Kosten eines
guten Mikropskopes sparen, sondern zu einem gebrauchten Forschungsmikroskop der 80-iger Jahre des 19. Jahrhunderts der Fa Zeiss oder Leitz greifen, denn sonst machen sich die Kids
nur ihre Augen kaputt. Ein kleines gebrauchtes transportables Stereomikroskop neben einer mobilen Laboraustattung fuer Probenentnahme und Praeparation vor Ort
leistet draussen in der Natur bei der Feldforschung gute Dienste.
Auf eine fotografische Ausruestung sollte man dabei zunaechst voellig verzichten, denn es ist nicht nur fuer Kinder viel lehrreicher
das Gesehenene von Hand selbst zu zeichnen.
Insbesondere sollte aber die Praeparationtechnik immer im Vordergrund stehen und nicht die Bildgebung,
denn jedes Bild ist nur so gut wie die Praeparation und Probennahme des Objektes.
Fuer mich macht Mikroskopie nur Sinn, wenn ich dabei etwas Neues entdecken kann und veroeffentliche.
Aber auch dabei ist das Mikroskop nur ein technisches Mittel zum Zweck und darf nie im Vordergrund stehen.
Vorraussetzung etwas Neues zu finden sind aber fundierte Kenntnisse der Biologie, eine
hervorragende handwerkliche Praeparationstechnik und das geschulte Auge, um draussen in der Natur Neues zu sehen und zu finden.
Bei ihren Lehrvideos fuer Kinder sollten sie mehr Aufmerksamkeit darauf lenken anstatt immer wieder die end- und sinnlose Diskussion
ueber die mikroskopische Technik zu fuehren.
Awesome! Where can I buy one LOL.
No a company imported really cheap scrapbook china and put it together and sold as a complete unit.
Is it from omax?
Just check out INTJ lol Good video, thank you
Do you have a list of microscopes you would suggest?
No, because there are simply too many. The basic features are also mostly the same. If you get one from a known retailer, then you should mostly be fine. The microscope in the video was so terrible that there was not even a retailer / brand printed on. I guess it was some kind of 2nd rate batch or something like this.
Anybody know any good brands available in canada around 1k? Omax seems good for the price
You cannot convince me, for one second, that, with all these mechanical problems, the optics of these scopes are good. Microscope mechanics are 1000x simpler than the optics.
The optics are manufactured by a separate company and then bought and attached. They are too specialized. So a bad mechanically made microscope can have reasonable optics connected.
sorry. i mean no offense. btw, do you have horsetail? i found it disturbing.
Why not buy the Olympus brand again? It lasted 30 years!!!
Too expensive. The cheapest new Olympus cost about EUR 1000 per microscope. And due to improper use, students are likely to break it again.....
If you're gonna take a chance why not just buy 1 instead of 20? Lol. Not sure why you would buy something based on the look. Samsung phone clones are no where near the quality of the original phones but they look convincing. Don't do that. Lol.
3:14 why do you look like someone is behind the camera with a knife you look terrified
Good enough for Government work.
Have you heard of euromex microscopes
Yes, it's a company from the Netherlands. Here I unpack a Euromex microscope: czcams.com/video/rk2kYGxc9Pw/video.html
Damn, such a catastrophe
You talk weird, but I LOVE your videos!
Austrian accent, I suppose
Sounds like a bogus/ cheap China product. There are however good and dependable China brand microscopes that I've come across and theyre OK esp for learning purposes. AmScope brand, for one.
Hi mate, thank you very much for your great videos and information. It is appreciated. I have a question if you could please answer. I need a proper microscope for Gemology, to see through stones like quartz, emerald, etc... and around what prices please? cheers mate.
scopes can only see through thin sections, otherwise to look at stone you need an "inspection scope," they sell them as circuit board inspection scopes but theyre good for geology. Youll want up to 100x zoom at the least, if not 400x or higher. A bright light is necessary also.
jesus, have u bought those on Toys'R'Us?
Those who buy cheap buy twice.
9 people who bought this microscope clicked thumbs down.
Made in china by people who do not get paid very well for what they do. Dont buy a musical instrument off amazon without finding out where it comes from either